The
Scottish Events 2013
Photos
by Terry H and Rob J
(Click
the
photo to see a larger picture in a slide show.)
Thursday
1st August
Rob
J, Terry and Dilys H headed north for the Scottish VMCC events without
Bill and
Jean this year. Rob took the Venom as the rigid MAC had a carburettor
problem and
Terry
took the Guzzi. We arranged a meeting at the Strensham Services on the
M5 and
drove to our overnight stop at the Westmorland Farm services, at Tebay,
south
of Carlisle. This would in theory
give us a
short drive to Crieff on the Friday. Some
hundred miles short of our destination I noticed
blue smoke pouring from Terry’s trailer left wheel. Inspection showed
that the
bearing cover was missing and the bearing had run hot and overheated.
We
managed to get some grease from a maintenance vehicle at the next
services and
using a cut down Costa Coffee cup, as a cover, drove carefully on.
Friday
2nd August
Early
on the Friday Terry called out the breakdown services and we followed
the
trailer, now on the low loader, to Carlisle.
By
early afternoon, with all new bearings and a lighter wallet, we were on
the
road to Creiff where we arrived about 6pm. We set up and later went to
the
marquee for a chat. The bar was not open so we took a few bottles.
Saturday 3rd
August
The
day of the S&T was dry with some possible showers.
There were 86
entered in
the programme and all the bikes were lined up. We were waved off with
the
Scottish flag, Terry and Dilys at 10:50 and Rob at 10:56. We had opted
for the
short route at 24 mph. The whole route card for the morning and
afternoon
sections was contained on one sheet of A4 and had only 14 instructions.
The run
took us to Aberfeldy, and along a lovely road with good views to the
lunch stop
at the Clachan Cottage Hotel, on Loch Earn.
The afternoon run was
straight down
the main road back to Crieff.
This interesting 1922 Humber sports 600cc
flat twin was seen back at the finish.
The
evening consisted of drinks and a buffet and the presentation of
awards. Needless to say, we
didn’t get any.
Sunday
4th August.
The
morning of the social run dawned wet and grey. Leaving Crieff we
splashed
through some large puddles and were heading for some very dark rain
clouds.
After a few showers the day did brighten up. The route took us south
then along
the valley of the River Earn, with some lovely views, before turning up
Little
Glenshee. We were warned of single track roads, a sharp hairpin bend
and a
ford. All were negotiated with no
problem.
The lunch stop was at Wester Pickston Railway. This is a 16mm
railway
located in a woodland site and owned by the Scottish Model Engineering
Trust.
There was a short run back. On returning I found that my gas cylinder
had run
out in my Romahome camper, so Dilys and Terry treated me to dinner in
their motorhome.
Monday
5th August.
We
had decided to head further north this year so with bikes loaded on
trailers we
left Crieff at 10:00 to cover the 135 miles to Evanton, north of
Inverness, on the Cromarty Firth.
On arrival at our campsite I enquired
about a
gas cylinder and was told that there were some on site. So we set up
and I went
off to purchase some gas only to find that they only had the smaller
cylinders.
“You can get some up the road in Alness about three miles away.”
explained the
campsite owner. The choice was to pack up the camper and disconnect
everything
and drive there or take the Velo. Luckily I had brought my top box so
that was
duly fitted and the gas cylinder wedged in and off I went. In an hour I
was
cooking with gas. We did some shopping in the village co-op before
having an
evening meal in the local pub.
Tuesday
6th August
Terry
and I had discussed a trip around Loch Ness and, according to my map
book, I
had estimated it to be about 75 miles.
The weather was sunny and the
first part
of the route was quite boring. It did improve with some twisty bits on
the A833
before reaching Drumnadrochit where we stopped for a cup of tea. We
chatted to
Dave and Val from Scarborough who told us about the parking problems at
Urquart. Returning to the A82
main road
to Fort Augustus we spotted a lay-by and
stopped
to photograph the castle. We were shouted at by one of the parking
officials,
but having helmets on and engines running we were unable to understand
the
greeting he used. At lunch in Fort Augustus,
we all had some
very tasty fish and chips from the Lock Inn. Terry ordered two and a
half pints
of lager then changed his mind and ordered some real ale which confused
the landlord as he now thought we actually wanted four pints and two
halves. We
had our
food at tables on the side of the locks and watched a boat negotiate
the Caledonian Canal. Duly fed and
watered we set off on B
roads around the other side of the Loch.
The
road to Whitebridge gave us some fantastic views of the mountains and
the old
military road through Foyers gave us a much better and traffic free
route with
views of Loch Ness. This is most definitely the best side of Loch Ness
for
riding. We reached our campsite around tea time after a run of 101
miles
according to Terry’s mileometer. Seems my estimates were slightly out.
Wednesday
7th August
It
was raining when we left Evanton and headed north west to Ullapool, a
gentle run
of
about 60 miles. As we crested a pass the rain stopped and the sun came
out
giving us a view down Lochbroom to Ullapool in the distance.
We camped
at Broomfield Holiday Park,
situated on the loch side and in easy walking distance of the town.
Terry and I
explored Ullapool, looked at the shops, checked the restaurants, had a
pint and
checked the ferry times to Stornoway.
After an evening meal at the
Seaforth Bar
we went back to the campsite and saw a spectacular sunset before
turning in.
Thursday
8th August
Our
plan today was to take a Cal-Mac ferry to Stornoway. We knew that we
would have
only 10 minutes on shore but we thought it would be good to view the
islands off
Ullapool and say we had been to the Outer
Hebrides.
We took binoculars so we could look out for wild life. The weather was
good and
we did have good views of the islands. The trip cost £17.50 return
while a half
day boat trip around the islands was priced at £40 in Ullapool.
Friday
9th August.
We
were faced with a journey of 170 miles down to Blairgowrie for the 39th
Scottish National Rally, so we set off around 10 and aimed to arrive at
mid afternoon.
Just outside Inverness my temperature
warning
light came on so I pulled over. Checking under the bonnet everything
seemed
fine, engine and radiator cool enough, no overheating or loss of water.
We decided
to press on. On reaching Blairgowrie I took a wrong turn into a
cul-de-sac and
needing to turn around, had to unhitch the trailer. When attempting to
start the
van there was nothing. Resorting to the AA it was seen that the fan
belt
driving the alternator was missing. The AA did not have a grooved belt
but the
local Puegeot garage did. Unfortunately theirs were too long but the
salesman
could get one by Monday. We also noticed that the wiring had been
incorrectly
fitted and the ignition warning light was lighting up the temperature
light. Jump starting the van I headed for
the
Blairgowrie Rugby Club with the AA van following. What an entry!
Set
up on site and it was over to the bar for a pint, nibble and natter.
Imagine my
surprise when I ordered some drinks to be asked if I wanted a fan belt
with them!
The salesman at the garage was now working behind the bar.
Saturday
10th August
Over
90 entrants assembled for the rally. We elected for the short route and
24 mph,
with me setting off some 13 minutes before Terry. The route took us out
over
The Bridge of Cally and some mountain roads to Pitlochry and Aberfeldy
to lunch
at The Kenmore Hotel on Loch Tay.
The return route saw us climb up the
twisting
road to Glen Quiach where we met a micro car club at the summit,
including one
being towed up! We then followed part of the route we had taken the
previous
week over Little Glenshee, through the ford back to Blairgowrie.
Chatting later
it seemed the short route was close to 100 miles! The evening
presentation saw
Terry get the timekeeping award in the post 1970 class.
Sunday
11th August.
The
social run was some 50 miles in total using a scenic route to Glamis
where we
stopped at the Strathmore Vintage Vehicle Club museum to view the
exhibits and
have a BBQ. We called in for a pint at the Dalmore restaurant before
returning
to the rugby field and loading the bikes on trailers.
A
good 11 days with a chance to catch up with old friends like Paddy
Winters,
make new ones, look at old motorcycles and ride some very interesting
roads.
Terry
and Dilys were next off to the Lake District while Rob was off to
Dumfries to do some motorcycling with a fellow
Velocette
Club member. The following few pictures were taken at the Ravenglass
and Eskdale 16 inch gauge steam railway in the Lake District.
Finally
we would like to thank our sponsors for their help in make it possible;-
Terry
and Dilys Hopes - sponsored by Costa Coffee
Rob
Jones - sponsored by the AA. (yet again)
Early
on the Friday Terry called out the breakdown services and we followed
the
trailer, now on the low loader, to Carlisle.
By
early afternoon, with all new bearings and a lighter wallet, we were on
the
road to Creiff where we arrived about 6pm. We set up and later went to
the
marquee for a chat. The bar was not open so we took a few bottles.
On arrival at our campsite I enquired
about a
gas cylinder and was told that there were some on site. So we set up
and I went
off to purchase some gas only to find that they only had the smaller
cylinders.
“You can get some up the road in Alness about three miles away.”
explained the
campsite owner. The choice was to pack up the camper and disconnect
everything
and drive there or take the Velo. Luckily I had brought my top box so
that was
duly fitted and the gas cylinder wedged in and off I went. In an hour I
was
cooking with gas. We did some shopping in the village co-op before
having an
evening meal in the local pub.
